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Scotland is gearing up for an exciting return to the men’s World Cup finals after nearly three decades, having been drawn into a challenging group alongside Brazil, Morocco, and Haiti. Manager Steve Clarke expressed confidence that his team can “bring a little bit of magic” to the global tournament. The Scottish squad will open their campaign against Haiti on June 13, with matches scheduled across several U.S. cities including Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Atlanta, and Miami. The precise venues for these fixtures will be confirmed shortly.
This marks Scotland’s first World Cup appearance in 28 years, and the group is notable for featuring two opponents—Brazil and Morocco—whom Scotland faced in the 1998 tournament. Clarke described the draw as “fantastic,” emphasizing that avoiding European rivals allowed Scotland to compete against formidable teams from three different continents, which encapsulates the spirit of the World Cup. The event itself is set to take place mainly across the United States, with matches also hosted in Canada and Mexico.
Reflecting on previous encounters, Scotland has yet to play Haiti and will be facing them for the first time. Despite being ranked 84th globally, Haiti secured their spot confidently by defeating Nicaragua in qualifying. However, due to ongoing unrest, Haitian manager Sebastien Migne has never visited the country since his appointment, with the team forced to host home games in Curacao. On the other hand, Scotland’s only match against Morocco ended in a 3-0 loss during that 1998 World Cup campaign, and Morocco enters the tournament on a remarkable 12-game winning streak.
Brazil, the five-time World Cup champions, are led by Carlo Ancelotti and bring a star-studded squad to the competition. Despite mixed recent results, including a draw against Tunisia and losses to Japan and Bolivia, they remain one of the favorites. Clarke acknowledged the challenge this presents, particularly highlighting the special atmosphere created by both Brazilian fans and Scotland’s own supporters, known as the Tartan Army. After a dramatic qualification campaign, including a memorable win over Denmark, Scotland is ready to embrace the challenge ahead and make the most of their World Cup return
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